Mar 16:1-8 | JFB | STEP | 1. And when the sabbath was past —that is, at sunset of our Saturday. Mary Magdalene —(See on ). and Mary the mother of James —James the Less (see ). and Salome —the mother of Zebedee's sons (compare ). had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him —The word is simply "bought." But our translators are perhaps right in rendering it here "had bought," since it would appear, from , that they had purchased them immediately after the Crucifixion, on the Friday evening, during the short interval that remained to them before sunset, when the sabbath rest began; and that they had only deferred using them to anoint the body till the sabbath rest should be over. On this "anointing," see on .

Mark 16:1-8

1. And when the sabbath was past—that is, at sunset of our Saturday.

Mary Magdalene—(See on Lu 8:2).

and Mary the mother of James—James the Less (see Mr 15:40).

and Salome—the mother of Zebedee's sons (compare Mr 15:40 with Mt 27:56).

had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him—The word is simply "bought." But our translators are perhaps right in rendering it here "had bought," since it would appear, from Lu 23:56, that they had purchased them immediately after the Crucifixion, on the Friday evening, during the short interval that remained to them before sunset, when the sabbath rest began; and that they had only deferred using them to anoint the body till the sabbath rest should be over. On this "anointing," see on Joh 19:40.

2. And very early in the morning—(See on Mt 28:1).

the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun—not quite literally, but "at earliest dawn"; according to a way of speaking not uncommon, and occurring sometimes in the Old Testament. Thus our Lord rose on the third day; having lain in the grave part of Friday, the whole of Saturday, and part of the following First day.

3. And they said among themselves—as they were approaching the sacred spot.

Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? . . . for it was very great—On reaching it they find their difficulty gone—the stone already rolled away by an unseen hand. And are there no others who, when advancing to duty in the face of appalling difficulties, find their stone also rolled away?

5. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man—In Mt 28:2 he is called "the angel of the Lord"; but here he is described as he appeared to the eye, in the bloom of a life that knows no decay. In Matthew he is represented as sitting on the stone outside the sepulchre; but since even there he says, "Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Mt 28:6), he seems, as ALFORD says, to have gone in with them from without; only awaiting their arrival to accompany them into the hallowed spot, and instruct them about it.

sitting on the right side—having respect to the position in which His Lord had lain there. This trait is peculiar to Mark; but compare Lu 1:11.

clothed in a long white garment—On its length, see Isa 6:1; and on its whiteness, see on Mt 28:3.

and they were affrighted.

6. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted—a stronger word than "Fear not" in Matthew (Mt 28:5).

Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified!—"the Nazarene, the Crucified."

he is risen; he is not here—(See on Lu 24:5, 6).

behold the place where they laid him—(See on Mt 28:6).

7. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter—This Second Gospel, being drawn up—as all the earliest tradition states—under the eye of Peter, or from materials chiefly furnished by him, there is something deeply affecting in the preservation of this little clause by Mark alone.

that he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, as he said unto you—(See on Mt 28:7).

8. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre: for they trembled and were amazed—"for tremor and amazement seized them."

neither said they anything to any man; for they were afraid—How intensely natural and simple is this!

Appearances of Jesus after His Resurrection (Mr 16:9-18).